Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Champion, Kamaru Usman, has promised to help Nigerian youths.
Gatekeepers News reports that Nigeria-born American Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Champion, Kamaru Usman, has promised to get more youths in the country involved in the mixed martial art that has brought him global fame and wealth.
Kamaru Usman, while speaking in Lagos, expressed the joy of visiting Nigeria for the first time in two decades.
Usman said, “First, I want to say thank you to the millions of Nigerians who have been following my fights and help to create the awareness for the sport. My plan is to help groom the youths to spark their interest in the mixed martial art. We want to create different opportunities for the youths to excel.”
Usman stated that he believes there are so many of his types in the country and are only waiting to be discovered and polished into world champions.
“I started out as a wrestler and moved into the mixed martial art in search of more adventures. I did other sports at high school and college before getting to where I am today. It takes hard work and determination. So if I can make it, I believe thousands of our kids out there can also get it right.”
The Auchi-born who hasn’t lost touch of his pidgin English said, “I be Naija proper.”
Usman who has fought in 20 matches in the Mixed Martial Arts; has won 19 which eight were by knockout.
He, however, insisted that he was not ready to move up to the middleweight class where another Nigerian-Israel Adesanya fights.
“No, I don’t want to move up. For me, it is better to have two Nigerians with two belts than having one with two belts. He’s my buddy. We talk and share notes most time. I stayed awake here in Nigeria to watch his fight with Italian contender, Marvin Vettori in Arizona on Sunday night (6 am in Nigeria).”
According to him, he is excited that three Africans of which two are Nigerians (himself and Israel Adesanya), have done so much to put the continent on the global map of UFC.
The third, Cameroonian Francis Ngannou who is known as the hardest recorded puncher in UFC history, is the reigning UFC heavyweight champion.
Usman stated that his next dream is to bring his fight to Africa, “That is my dream, to fight here in front of my people. That will be great. I believe it will soon happen.”
The fighter who is also known as the “Nigerian Nightmare” returned to his home country from the United States on Thursday.
Usman upon his arrival visited Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo and has also met with Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello; Minister for Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare; and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The UFC Welterweight Champion has been appointed an ambassador by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).
Here are photos from his visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu:
